The leaves falling from the trees are rich with autumnal color, and Last Thursday evening, the weather in Brookfield was definitely a bit on the cooler side, Fall having truly arrived. However, that wasn’t the case if you were downtown at the Cottage in Irish Times, where the temperature was sizzling.
The reason for this sudden climatic change, was the appearance of the ever-popular pianist, bandleader and radio host Marshall Vente, who was performing for the local Brookfield Jazz Society. With Marshall were his current trio, featuring co-leader and bass virtuoso Eldee Young, and the dynamic Isi Perez on drums. This gig was extra special, as it was Eldee’s last performance in the USA many months.
The evening started with a varied selection of pieces including Irving Berlin’s “Cheek to Cheek” and the popular standard “There is No Greater Love.” The mood changed as the trio kicked into some bossa nova with a superb rendition of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “How Insensitive,” which featured some fine hummed bowed-bass by Eldee Young, in the unusual style of the late, great Slam Stewart.
Marshall decided to show off his own unique vocal talents on the amusing “TV Blues,” while Eldee again took over the vocal responsibilities on the diverse “Mona Lisa” and “C.C. Rider,” which also featured plenty of Marshall’s excellent keyboard work, and some crisp drumming from Isi Perez.
After the interval, the audience was treated to a further mix of jazz standards and originals. A couple of classics featured were “The In Crowd” and “Wade in the Water,” a pair of jazz tunes made famous when Ramsey Lewis actually topped the pop music charts in the 1960s. The evening ended all too soon for the appreciative crowd, who all departed into the cool night air in good humor. If you want to hear more of Marshall Vente, you can tune into his popular “Jazz Tropicale” show, every Sunday evening at 10 p.m. on WDCB radio (90.9 FM).
The Brookfield Jazz Society’s next live event will again be held in the Irish Times Cottage. The date is Thursday, Nov. 10, and Chicago’s own Sue Pasquale and Friends will be supplying the music. Admission will be by ticket only. Tickets can be obtained free of charge by attending any of the society’s regular Thursday evening meetings at the Brookfield Village Hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave. (downstairs). Admission on the night of the show will be $5.
Further details can be obtained by visiting www.brookfieldjazz.org.
?”Ian Tiele
